As the speed of technology change continues to increase, libraries are increasingly concerned with how to adapt and stay relevant in the future. It seems fitting that the topic of the latest Library 2.0 mini-conference addressed the future of libraries.

Does your library have enough broadband to meet the needs of patrons and staff? Technology use in libraries is at an all-time high. Without enough bandwidth coming into the library, patrons are unable to stay connected, and staff productivity is blocked. How can libraries plan for the future when it comes to broadband? And how can libraries leverage the E-rate program to increase bandwidth and the availability of high-speed Internet?

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Recent elections and events across the world have stirred strong emotions and often seemed to highlight differences. No one knows the extent to which rhetoric will be acted on, and this uncertainty creates anxiety for many. In this context, we want to reiterate that TechSoup holds cardinal values around nondiscrimination, diversity, and inclusivity. No matter the context, we will stay true to these values and we will make common cause with others, in this country and across the globe, who share them.

Library Link Roundup is a recurring series in which we'll share articles, blog posts, and resources related to library technology, innovative projects, and other news we think will be of interest to our TechSoup for Libraries readers around the world. Enjoy!

Their Ready, Set, Connect! project provides serious technology career training to local teens who then provide digital literacy tutoring at the library. It is an innovative program that both organizations hope can be replicated across the country.

With the boom in tech over the last several years, more and more public librarians are finding themselves thrust into training roles in an attempt to meet community needs. These "accidental trainers" want to equip their patrons with knowledge and skills to successfully navigate the digital age but often lack the time and experience to take the first steps. Gail’s Toolkit, a free resource from the Gail Borden Public Library in Elgin, Illinois, answers this need.

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I know there are lots of social media tools beyond Facebook and Twitter that people are using that I should know about. But who has the time? That's why I like TechBoomers. They currently offer over 100 free courses composed of over 1,000 video and article tutorials.

TechBoomers.com is a free educational website that teaches older adults and others with limited computer skills how to use popular websites and apps. That means their courses are simple to digest and understand. It also makes TechBoomers a great resource for library staff and patrons to quickly find out how to use things like Snapchat, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Plus, all their content is Creative Commons licensed, which means you are free to reuse it in your own technology training for patrons or staff!

This post originally appeared on TechSoup.org. We're sharing it here because libraries also need to measure their social media activities to understand what is working well and what could be improved. Happy measuring!

When you're new to the world of social media analytics, it can be quite overwhelming not only trying to determine what to measure, but what tool to use. We recently published a recap of our webinar on social media analytics with Laura Solomon, a librarian and social media expert. There was so much covered in that hour that we barely scratched the surface in our recap and didn't have a chance to focus on analytics tools.

People come to the library with questions. Sometimes their questions are deflected as not being "ready reference" questions, meaning questions that can be answered by using one or two common reference tools. Is a question less valid if it is not a ready reference question? What would happen if librarians addressed questions by convening members of the community — pooling knowledge to discern and devise answers and solutions? The unanswered questions would have a higher chance of being addressed, which itself would promote more wondering.

Suppose someone came to the library and asked this question: "I don't have money to pay utility bills. In what ways can I make it through the winter in my apartment or house without freezing to death?" That's a valid question, even though it's not your typical public library reference question.

There might not be one tidy answer to this question, but there are many approaches to answering this question. Naturally, all proposed solutions to this situation must place the safety of the community member first.